[You guys are hot on the trail of some bandits. Yes, the same ones you've been chasing since forever. Over the past two days, you've been going steadily east through Ki lands, following lead after lead in the towns that had reasonably friendly people. Of course, there being civil war and all, there's been some places you've had to steer clear from.] [The time is late afternoon, with an overcast sky. The place is the wilderness. The game is now.] [Session Start.] * Jinx rides along with a pistol out so he can keep a hand on the reigns. * Millie rides through the wilderness with the greatest of ease. Her face is looking up at the sky with a bit of a frown. "Don't look too good up there." * Mikoto continues to bait slash writers everywhere by sharing John's horse. * Sakura hasn't changed partners. * John keeps riding thru the woods. Any slash writers out there who expand on this get two bullets in their head. * Tairan rides along, looking remarkably unbothered for a guy who was just recently called an honorless dog. * MaryAnne says "I quite agree." * Fanfan glances up and shrugs. "We've been through worse." * Tairan also keeps a keen eye out for anything that looks like the tracks they've been following. * Millie slows down and stops Pepper and reaches in her saddlebag, searching for the map. [Millie finds it!] (And I didn't even have to roll. How about that?) * Millie looks at the map and tries to get her bearings. ( "Ok, we're near this squiggly green line and this stream of blood..." "Um, that's ketchup." ) ( "... critfail. You find a maze puzzle map from a kids restaurant from when you were ten, and mistake it for the map." ) ( Heh. ) * Jinx scans for threats, as is his wont. 2d6-3 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Millie (2d6-3) and gets 3. * Mikoto glances at the horizon around John's back. "It's amazing how we managed to turn being four hours behind to being days behind." He sounds a bit irritated. I dunno if we're days behind. It's just that they're moving at least as fast as we are. * John frowns. Huh...anyone know anythin' 'bout Murakami? * Jinx grins. "Yeah, mental note, next tracking job I'm gonna demand to be paid by the day." * Mikoto blinks, glancing at Millie. "As in the Murakami clan?" * Millie nods. "We're comin' to their borders pretty soon." ( I know they're a clan! ) * Tairan hrms, racking his brain. "Dammit, I really should've paid more attention to the clans lessons..." Least that's what it looks like here.. * Jinx looks worried. "How soon?" 2d6-4 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Tairan (2d6-4) and gets 6. * Millie pushes her finger on the map. * Mikoto frowns, thinking. "Let's see..." 2d6-2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Tairan (2d6-2) and gets 7. 2d6-2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Fanfan (2d6-2) and gets 3. Do we need ta worry 'bout that? ... dammit, I can't remember... can I see the map, Millie? We'd probably reach there by nighttime. So if we want ta go there, we better know soon. 2d6-2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Mikoto (2d6-2) and gets 3. * Millie blinks up and rides a little closer to Tairan, holding up the map. (Okay, you CA fanatics, Murakami's a major clan, but you all already knew that! ^_~) * Tairan studies the map intently. "C'mon brain... I know you're kinda rusty..." 2d6-4 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Sakura (2d6-4) and gets 4. ( You know you're not in Teck! ) Well, we're 'bout here right now I reckon. ( Actually, it's fly dung. ) * Tairan removes his hat and scratches his head before putting said hat back on... 2d6-6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Tairan (2d6-6) and gets 3. * Jinx checks his gun. "Given my luck, there's no way we could make it through Ki without meeting at least some gun haters. So I'm thinking we have a fight coming before camp tonight." * Millie grumbles a bit and takes back the map. "Some tracker." * Mikoto breathes out. "Well, they're a major clan. That can be surmised from their name being on the map, though. As for anything else, I don't really know. I'm trying to remember." ... oh fucking hell. That's just great... * MaryAnne coughs, her hand near her mouth. * Mikoto glances back at Tairan. "Suddenly remember something?" * Millie rubs her chin. "Wait, you sure 'bout that, Jinxy?" * Tairan grimaces. "Much to my displeasure... we appear to be in Hoshimoto territory." I mean think 'bout it. How could Jan an' company get this far in too? They've got ta have quite a bit of guns 'round." We will in their territory soon. * Mikoto blinks, then frowns. "...Have you considered a career in divination, Jinx?" * Millie 's brow twitches slightly. ( Call him now for your free reading. ) * John idily checks his pistols, and makes sure to reload them. * Jinx shrugs. "I'd be happy to be wrong... but." He glances at Tairan when he gives his news. "I don't think the odds favor it." ... well, I'll give them credit for some really huge balls. Trail says they cut straight through Hoshimoto territory. Either that or they ain't usin' guns. * Mikoto sighs. "That fits Jan's modus operandi, though. It would definitely be to our benefit to pick up the pace." All's the better if they ain't. Means we got an advantage on our side. * Millie reigns Pepper back a little and looks over at Tairan. "So we go 'round, Mr. Tracker or go through?" * John holsters his pistols. ... hell. If we go around, they gain ground, and we maybe lose the trail. ( Meanwhile, the entire Hoshimoto clan swarmed down and killed the idling PCs, the end. ) Fine. Jus' note that if we're gonna get killed cause yer so damned stupid, yer goin' first. By my bullet. But if we go thru, we risk getting killed. (You're all in this for the insurance plan, I see.) * Jinx laughs. "Our job is to risk getting killed, let's stop wasting time." * Mikoto glances at Tairan. "Are they the slash first, ask questions later types?" * Tairan glares at Millie. "Yeah, I used a gun. How stupid of me." [/deadpan] * Mikoto thinks. "I might have a plan to keep us from harm, but it might take a little arranging." * Millie eyes Tairan steadily back, and flutters her lashes in mocking, bringing her fingers to her chin. "I'm sure stealin' that sword didn't help none, Tai- dear." * John chuckles. "Let's get goin', then." Depends. Like I said, if we luck into troops that owe me favors, we're not in such terrible shape. Otherwise, it's slash first through eighth. No questions. * Tairan snorts. "I was exiled, remember? Sword or no, if they caught me back here I'd die slowly and painfully. All the sword means is that I can defend myself better." Sounds like a reasonable plan. * Jinx nods at Tairan. "Yeah, say the word and we start firing. What's the diplomatic plan Mikoto?" * Millie rolls her eyes. "Whatever. Let's go then." * John rolls his eyes. "Still, we're not gaining any ground sitting here. Let's discuss the plan as we move." * Millie pulls on the reigns and starts heading out. * Jinx does the same. * Mikoto hmms and turns around again, facing forward. "If we're stopped by unfriendly troops, we might be able to deceive them into thinking we Easterners discovered Teckian 'outlaws' and are bringing them to justice." * Millie eyes Mikoto. "Who ya callin' outlaw?" * John starts moving. * MaryAnne says "I say, do I LOOK like a person of poor morals?" * Mikoto turns back to look at the others. "You could say Tairan is bringing them as a peace offering. We're holding their guns to keep them from escaping." But what if they decided to help us by executing them outright? What if they insist on executing them right there? ( I WIN. XD ) Actually, mentioning my name would be all kinds of bad. An' there's no way in HELL I'm lettin' any o' ya mooks touch Greenpeace. Our best bet is to stick to the woods as much as possible and avoid any and all human contact. * Mikoto sighs. "Everyone's willingness to cooperate is, as ever, our greatest strength." He turns back around. "If push comes to shove, we'll fight our way out. We're too close to risk losing the trail now." That seems...the least objectable course. Look, Tai's the one who made goin' through here such a mess in the first place. It's his responsibility. So you are blaming him for his past? That hardly seems reasonable. And remember, folks... if it comes down to that, guns have longer reach than swords. So don't be afraid to sit back and let our gunners pick them off while they're charging before wading into melee. * Millie looks at Fanfan oddly. "It don't? How ya figure?" He did not know that he would be inconveniencing himself now when he did...what he did. The same way we don't blame you for your... dislike of the undead. *biggrin* * Millie shakes her head. "Ain't like Millie brought anythin' to the table. I trust who I work with ta do the same." * Mikoto hmphs. "As a person of good character who's benefitted from Tairan's timely combat assistance on more than one occasion, I couldn't condone abandoning him." We're all responsable for our actions, and the reactions. Now let's figure out what the hell we're doin', got it? * Millie stops the horse...and freezes. She speaks calmly. "Miss Mary. Get me my gun." * MaryAnne gets Millie's gun "Okay." * Jinx switches to his shotgun. "What's happening?" * Sakura looks at Millie. "What is going on?" * Millie smiles at Mary. "Thank ya." She turns the point right towards Tairan. "You were sayin'?" * Tairan chuckles, slides off the horse, and holds his arms outspread. * MaryAnne says "It's rather heavy. I', simply amazed at how you are able to move it about so freely Miss Reinhart." * Jinx frowns, fairly deeply. * John draws his left pistol and aims it between the rifle and Tairan. * Millie follows Tairan slowly, her eyes steady. "Ya don't think I will, do ya?" I was saying that when one joins a group, one takes the good with the bad. We didn't give you grief about your problems with the undead because we know your skills are useful otherwise. * Mikoto also frowns. "Why does it have to come to this?" All I ask is the same respect. * Sakura places her hand on her sword. "What is going on?" * Tairan smirks. "And frankly, no. It's not in your character to shoot an unarmed man." But I didn't CAUSE the undead ta come after me. I don't think ya see how the same don't apply with you. * Fanfan blinks and watches with an impassioned expression. * Millie smirks slightly. "Ain't it?" * Jinx narrows his eyes a bit. "I should hope that it isn't." * Tairan keeps his arms spread wide, and strides leisurely towards Millie. "If you wanna, go ahead. But you'll just prove my point for me." Oh? What point is that? * Jinx sighs and goes back to scanning for bad guys, figuring this'd be the perfect time for them to attack. You're ragging on me 'cause my past is coming back to trouble the group. I can't control my past. You can control your present, though. My skills are invaluable to the group. Kill me, and you do more harm to the group than I could possibly, and you do it knowing the consequences. * Mikoto says, quietly, "You'd also be killing an innocent man out of stubborn pridefulness." * Millie gestures her gaze to Sakura. "You can track, can'tcha?" [Perception rolls, +2.] * John shakes his head. "Millie. Stand down." 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Mikoto (2d6) and gets 7. 2d6-2 2d6+2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Fanfan (2d6-2) and gets 4. * Dicesuke throws the bones for John (2d6+2) and gets 9. 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Tairan (2d6) and gets 4. 2d6+2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Millie (2d6+2) and gets 10. 2d6+2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Jinx (2d6+2) and gets 9. 2d6+2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Sakura (2d6+2) and gets 13. 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for MaryAnne (2d6) and gets 7. Yes, I can. However, I believe he is a more effective tracker. [Mikoto, Fanfan, Tairan, and Mary Anne all hear some talking in the distance, though what they're saying is impossible to make out. Fanfan can tell that they're moving away, though.] * Millie smirks a little, then turns back to Tairan, barrel still aimed. "Yeah..well then." You would also be murdering an unarmed man who meant you no harm. I would be required by honor to kill you in exchange. * Jinx keeps scanning. "Kill him in cold blood and we'll have a shootout." * MaryAnne says "Ummm...can we not get alon...Oh, I think someone is coming closer." * Mikoto frowns. "Company. Now is not the time for this." ... and while you've been stroking your ego, we've been spotted. Congratulations. * John eyes Millie. "Stand down." * Millie looks back at Mikoto and blinks. "Huh?" Oh fine... * Fanfan turns her head. "...voices. It sounds like they are moving away." * Millie eyes Tairan nastily for a moment then raises the barrel. They'll certainly investigate if they hear shouting or gunshots, though. If we're lucky, curious passerbys. If we're not, scouts. My bet, needless to say, is on the latter. ( Unless they're Genome Samurai, at which point we can fool them by hiding under boxes. ) ( Yay! Boxes! ) (They might be NinjaCarrots!) Jus' note this ain't over, Mr. Tracker. * Tairan grins cheekily at Millie, tips his cap to her, then jogs back to Jinx and hops back on the horse. "Let's pick up the trail before it gets cold or our watchers decide to do more than watch." ( They Might Be Giant NinjaCarrots? ) * John holsters his pistol. "Move out." [The voices fade into the distance.] * Sakura moves her hand from her sword. (Yeah! Where's that Summon Bunnierabbits spell when you need it?! =)) * Jinx switches back to his revolver and gets riding once Tarain is on the horse. * John starts riding once Jinx's off. * Millie pulls up the reigns, Greenpeace still in hand and starts riding again, keeping eyes trained on Tairan. * Tairan resumes his efforts to pick up and keep on the trail, seemingly unruffled by the entire affair. * Mikoto sighs, muttering to John, "How did we even get this far?" * John shakes his head, muttering back. "Coincidence." 2d6-5 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Tairan (2d6-5) and gets 3. * Jinx glances over at Millie's horse as he rides. "You're looking the wrong way Millie, the enemies are out there." I know where I'm lookin'. ... got 'em. Looks like they just cut through the edge of Hoshimoto territory, then went into Murakami lands. How long? * Mikoto sighs. "There's a saying, in my family, about situations like this." * John raises an eyebrow. "eh?" So let's go. Either hoped we'd get jumped here, or get lost and think they cut all the way through, or that we'd just turn back. * Mikoto clears his throat. "'Live by the sword, trip and fall on your sword, die by the sword.'" A clever tactic. * John chuckles. "'s why I don't use a sword." We should only be in Hoshimoto territory for a few hours. Going fast would not be ill-advised. * Jinx chuckles for a moment, but he still doesn't look happy. He knees Lightning to set a faster pace. * Mikoto smiles a little. "The essence of the saying is, of course, that careless violence is self-destructive." * Millie stops to resling her rifle. "So what are we waitin' for?" She hyahs and brings Pepper up to a gentle gallop. * Tairan eyes the tracks s'more, falling silent for a few moments. "... and, unless I'm reading this wrong, we're only about a half day back." * John kicks Hazel to a nice pace. "Well, that's good." ( ... and, just as we speed up, 'Little Old Lady From Pasadena' comes on. x_x ) So are we gaining ground, losing ground, or keeping even? Does it matter? We know where we stand now. That's more than we came into this knowin' * Mikoto sighs, knitting his brow. "It's the *why* of this that upsets me. What's so important abot this tablet? Why are they taking it into the Empire?" Perhaps the Emperor has some desire for it. It is an ancient artifact, after all. Or someone else in the empire. * John shrugs. "I don't study archeology. All we're tryin' ta do is get it back." Why this far in too? ... that one's easy. To make our lives difficult. * Mikoto blinks. "That's absurd. Why would the Emperor resort to theft?" He purses his lips. "But there are many in the imperial court at Kyo that might, and we *are* heading east. Could they really be going to the capital?" * MaryAnne says "It has been rather a longer trip than I would have thought." * Millie eyes Mikoto then narrows them. "An' why would the Emporer employ the most wanted bandit in Teck? I thought most Shomurans hated us." * Jinx listens to the discussion without comment. * Mikoto frowns at Millie. "It's misconceptions like that which have created generations of distrust." (Emperor. ;_;) * Tairan studies the tracks some more. "... can't be sure, but I'd say we're mostly just keeping up. Maybe gaining a little ground, but they're moving at a pretty good clip." (Count that as Millie's accent ;P) (I kill Millie's accent!) * Sakura simply looks confused.. well, as confused as she can with the mask. (You gain 35 XP.) (Woot!) Perhaps the Teckian bandit is not the true leader of the group? If the Emperor employed another, the Teckians may have been hired by that person. * Millie tilts her head to the side slightly at Mikoto. "So sure it's a misconception? How far in didja live?" * John keeps riding, listening to the conversation. * Tairan smiles sardonically. "Just gotta hope that they've got luck as bad as ours." ( Or equally sadistic GMs running their game. =P ) ( Heh heh. Heh heh heh. ) * Mikoto half-turns back. "I was born on the very border, but I grew up in the capital." He sighs. "Shomurans don't hate Teckians. They just don't know or understand them. Ignorance is not the same as hatred." Bandits often meet bad luck. It is the vengence of the heavens. * Millie looks over at Mary. "An' yer right. It is a lot longer than we thought. Any hope of extendin' the pay ta compensate for our extra effort?" * Fanfan blinks neutrally at Mikoto's comment. * Jinx comments back to Tairan. "So, as an experienceed bandit hunter, think we should ride that extra day and a half to attack at night or should we plan for an attack during the day." * Millie smirks slightly at Mikoto. "Remind me ta take ya to Millie's home town. See if ya say the same." Well, attacking at night is always better. But let's get the hell outta Hoshimoto territory before we start drawing up battle plans. * Millie turns her full attention back on the trail. "But we're wastin' time. Hyah!" * Jinx grins. "Right." * Tairan hmms. "... thought I do have a few ideas..." * MaryAnne says "I wouldn't be an unreasonable request, but I would need to ask the society to provide for it." * Mikoto hmphs. "Those who act violently on their ignorance write their own folly." * Sakura giddups. * John nods and moves it! * Jinx further pushes his pace and concentrates on scanning. * Tairan glances over a Mikoto. "I heard another version of that line once. 'Dumbasses will be dumbasses.'" * Mikoto clears his throat, but can't suppress a smile. "There's a certain elegant simplicity to that." * John smirks. * Tairan gets back to concentrating on the tracks. 'course there is, Mikoto. Elegant's my nickname. *chuckles* * Millie mutters back to Mary under her breath. "Yeah. An' his first name's "Nowherenear"." * Mikoto thinks as he looks back to the trail. "Murakami... it's a clan known for their creative works. Peaceful people overall, I should think. Hopefully that will work to our advantage." ( Pfft. millie, it's Kettle on line 1. He says something about you calling him 'black' ;) Just hope you're right. ( Hee! ) * MaryAnne says "Oh my." * Fanfan ponders. "Artists and scholars, yes...but those who are passionate about their work may also be passionate in battle." At this point, once we're in not actively hostile territory, we can choose where to attack. A half nights ride isn't all that bad. * Millie blinks. "Didja say scholars?" * Fanfan blinks as well. "Yes, scholars....some of who may well be interested in artifacts..." * Mikoto nods. "An excellent point, Miss Fanfan." True, Fanfan. But being attacked by an angry painter is better than being attacked by an angry samurai, ne? * Millie nods slightly. "Now yer thinkin'.." [You ride for a few hours at a quick pace. Good thing your horses are well taken care of.] You would be very surprised what a panter can do. * Mikoto knits his brow. "I wonder if there are any historical societies similar to our employers' in the Empire..." ( I try very hard to remember! Very, very hard! ) ( Yeah, some of them painters can take our 10 armed samurai easely! ) It would explain their need for outsiders to do their work, at the very least. * MaryAnne says "Well, as I've said before, it's really only of academic value." We're goin' into the heart of Shomura's academia it sounds like, Miss Mary. ( With one stroke, even. ) ( Oh, my. ) Huh, well if it weren't for Calamity Jan's bounty, if it were going to academics we could just wait til it's in the scholars hands and reclaim it then. * MaryAnne says "Normally I would find that a good thing, but considering the morals of the ones involved in the theft of the artifact from the Society, I do wonder." [The sun starts to make its way below the horizon. Awareness checks.] 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Jinx (2d6) and gets 7. * Millie keeps her eyes on the trail. "Less the scholars of Shomura think there's somethin' 'bout the tablet that the Teckian Scholars Society wouldn't tell 'em... 2d6-4 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Fanfan (2d6-4) and gets 1. 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Millie (2d6) and gets 7. 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Sakura (2d6) and gets 11. 2d6-2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for MaryAnne (2d6-2) and gets 7. ( Again, no. ) 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for John (2d6) and gets 6. 2d6-2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Mikoto (2d6-2) and gets 5. 2d6-2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Tairan (2d6-2) and gets 6. [Mary Anne and John hear screams in the distance ahead. Mikoto and Fanfan hear those, but in addition to that, high-pitched laughter, too.] * Fanfan starts. "Did anyone else hear that?" * Mikoto sits up suddenly on the horse. "That can't be good." * MaryAnne looks up and says to Millie "Oh I do believe there is trouble up ahead." * Jinx shakes his head and switches to his shotgunn. * Mikoto frowns. "Screams. And... laughter?" * Millie blinks. "Really?" * John scowls. "Yeah. Let's go!" * Fanfan nods at Mikoto. This does not sound good. * Millie unslings Greenpeace and sighs. "Like I should expect anything less. Well, gives me a chance ta test this out..." * Millie pats Greenpeace then Pepper. "Com'on." She starts moving forward, slowing a little so she can make out what's going on. * Tairan shakes his head and chuckles as the group rides to investigate. * John rides to investigate. ^_^ * Jinx takes care not to get ahead of the group. * Sakura rids! * Sakura rides too. * Mikoto scans the horizon as the group rides on. "I somehow feel like our luck isn't good enough that this would be our quarry." What gives you that idea? If we're certain those are screams of people being attacked, I say we gallop in while surprise is still on our side. * Mikoto grins at John. "Call it intuition." I ain't goin' in till I know the situation. I jus' ain't that much of a gambler. * Jinx grins at Mikoto for a moment. "How's that different than diviniation." [Now everyone can hear both the screams and the laughter. You're gettin' closer, and the end of the forest is in sight.] * Millie smirks at Jinx * Mikoto chuckles and winks at Jinx. "It's not." * John chuckles. "If it works, it works. Let's see what's going on..." * Sakura draws her sword. * Jinx smiles a bit and shrugs. * Millie stays near the trees, keeping her eyes peeled towards the direction of the screaming. [You emerge onto grassland, on a downward sloping hill, and see what all the commotion is about. ] * Fanfan places her hands on the hilts of her swords, and flexes her legs to be ready for jumping. ( Quickly! Defend the Hornburg until Gandalf arrives! ) ( VICTORY: Defeat the enemy commander. DEFEAT: Mary Anne's unit is defeated. ) (Snicker) ( We're doomed. ) ( Quickly! Hold the line and defend earth until the Minbari get bored and halt the offensive. ) ( I thought the Minbari were the pacifists? ) (Ring the gong!) ( DO THE DEW! ) [In the light of the fading sun, you can see below six skeletal warriors, still wearing armor, and mounted on the skeletal remains of horses. They're circling around three lightly-armored warriors: a swordsman, a swordswoman, and an archer. The swordswoman has an arrow sticking through one shoulder, and looks like she's having trouble holding onto her katana.] ( Hope that got through. roll init ) d6+5 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Jinx (d6+5) and gets 10. d6+6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Sakura (d6+6) and gets 7. d6+6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for John (d6+6) and gets 7. d6+7 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Millie (d6+7) and gets 10. d6+7 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Tairan (d6+7) and gets 12. d6+7 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Fanfan (d6+7) and gets 13. d6+6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Mikoto (d6+6) and gets 12. (And the badasses go last. Go fig.) [There's also two more humans: One is impaled to the ground on a pike, the other is full of arrows. Don't count on them to do much.] [For the record, it's twilight, and the sky is overcast.] ( I donno, Boromir did well when he was full of arrows. Are there any hobbits around? ) * Jinx comments to Tairan. "Shit, I'm going in full tilt, you may want to wait til I get there to jump off." ( Hey, I'm badass! Kinda...anyways, this way no-one whines about not having had a chance to go. :P ) 1d6+5 * Dicesuke throws the bones for MaryAnne (1d6+5) and gets 6. * Millie bites her lip and backs her horse up a bit. "I'm...gonna wait here..." * John looks back at Mikoto. "We gotta get there fast. Think ya can hop off while I'm riding past?" * Mikoto nods. "I should be able to manage." (Lightning has Jinx and Tairan, Hazel has John and Mikoto, Horse has Sakura and Fanfan, and Pepper has Millie and Mary. First person's the rider. Yup.) (... Horse. *snerk*) ( I get to ride on the horse with the most awesomest name! :D ) ( Says the man who named his brother Will Rogers. ) Someone's gotta protect Miss Mary. Yeah, raight. (Hey, the GM's didn't catch it either!) * Fanfan leans forward slightly. "If you can skim past them, I should be able to leap into the fray." * MaryAnne says upon seeing the animated boney remains move about "Oh, how dreadful! I do detest undead things so!" I can't leap till we get there. So move. [Fanfan's turn!] ( Alright, I'm putting my next level into Cleric. We need someone who can turn undead. ) * Millie twitches slightly and looks back at Mary. "Don't DO that!" Horse will manage. We shall both leap. All right then. *flexes* Me first. Go. * Fanfan leaps off of Horse, drawing her swords, aiming to slash across one of the skeletons, and to roll inside the circle when the strike is finished. ( If you're riding and attacking, I need a riding check. ) ( Since you're leaping from the horse, it's an acrobatics roll followed by an attack, so roll the weapons now (and it should be 2 2d6-2, if I'm reading this sheet right. ) 2d6-2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Fanfan (2d6-2) and gets 3. Okay, thanks. 2 2d6-2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Fanfan (2 2d6-2) and gets 0 7. (First one was a crit.) ( :D ) [Fanfan manages to both knock the skeleton off its horse and cut off its left arm as she leaps by.] [Tairan's turn!] ( I should also mention this: +3 to shoot from a moving horse if you don't have steady hand ) * Tairan draws his sword and pistol, and tries to slide off Jinx's horse into attacking position... 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Tairan (2d6) and gets 9. [Tairan tumbles to the ground unceremoniously.] [Mikoto's turn!] ([As Mikoto predicted, Tairan does indeed fall on his sword.]) ( But he didn't trip, he just sort of slid over. ) (Details details) * Mikoto grabs hold of his weapon and attempts to leap off horseback as well, ideally turning that into momentum for a flying kick at a mounted skeleton. 2d6-2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Mikoto (2d6-2) and gets 7. [Mikoto fares much the same as Tairan.] ( Are we actually on the ground, or is it just we stumbled enough so that we couldn't gather ourselves for an attack? ) [The first skeleton is not happy about losing its arm, and stabs at Fanfan. However, it has trouble using the pike with only one hand, and misses entirely.] ( On the ground. You fell off a moving horse <.< ) ( Crap. ) ( Or jumped, or whatever. ) [Jinx's turn!] * Jinx rides a galloping Lightning down on his foes and attempts to line up a shot blasting as many skeltons as possible while avoid friendly fire. (ride first) * Tairan oofs. "This is why I always fight on foot..." *muttergrumble* 2d6-2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Jinx (2d6-2) and gets 3. 2d6-3 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Jinx (2d6-3) and gets 4. * Mikoto also oofs, rolling to a stop and steadying himself with the polearm. "Ow, ow, OW..." [Jinx manages to shoot two, but their armor absorbs much of the impact.] [Millie's turn!] * Millie doesn't look too happy. Apparently Pepper feels the nervousness because she whineys and starts backing into the forest. Her eyes are wide as she tries to calm her horse. "S-settle down. It's gonna...gonna be alright.." She closes her eyes, whispering (whimpering?) under her breath, trying to keep from hyperventilating. "Getta holda yourself girl." [The first trooper hacks at one of the skeletons as it rides by! He manages to nick it's leg, doing very little damage.] ( One of these days I'm going to make a half-psycho character. Because in this situation, I have the insane urge to have a character lop off one of the skeleton's bones and run around with it for subsequent sessions screaming "Skelly! SKELLY!!" ) [Said skeleton isn't too happy, and tries to stab the guy, but he manages to deflect the pike with his sword.] ( Hmm. I could dress in a suit. Be Skullomania from SFEX! ) [The second trooper slices at another skeleton, but misses. It responds by cutting her arm as it passes.] [The last trooper fires an arrow at one of the skeletons, and hits one in the arm; it doesn't seem to notice much.] [One of the skeletons fires an arrow at John as he rides up! John, gimme ranged defense (horseback riding)] (Fight fire with fire?) ( Ok, go ahead. But gimme a riding roll first. ) 2d6-3 * Dicesuke throws the bones for John (2d6-3) and gets 6. (And shootin' the arrow.) 2d6-6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for John (2d6-6) and gets -1. ( ...Impressive, Snake. ) [John snaps the arrow in half while it's flying through the sky.] * John has his guns in his hands now... [A skeleton tries to stab Mikoto as it rides by! Gimme defense +1, Mikoto] 2d6-1 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Mikoto (2d6-1) and gets 9. [The skeleton gives Mikoto a small gash along his forearm.] [And the final skeleton fires an arrow at Sakura!] ( Sakura: Ok... Make a riding check first, then the block bullets roll ) 2d6-2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Sakura (2d6-2) and gets 6. 2d6-5 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Sakura (2d6-5) and gets 6. [Sakura takes an arrow in the shoulder.] [It's Sakura's turn] 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Sakura (2d6) and gets 6. ( .. and I rolled 3 6's in a row. Is that an omen? ) (No. Because you actually rolled an 8 an 11 and a 6 ;P) ( Yeah, Dicey's the Devil's Beast. :P ) * Sakura leaps off the horse, her sword held above her head. As she streaks down towards the nearest skeleton, her sword catches a glint of the last rays of the sun.. and catches on fire. She brings it downward, striking! "Sunshine Flash." 2d6-5 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Sakura (2d6-5) and gets 2. ( SHINE GET. ) (It's Super Sakura Sunshine!) (... KILL LATER!) ( .. Wow. That is a terrifying image. ) [The Skeleton becomes flaming! It doesn't seem to mind much, but the flames are eating away at it.] [John's turn!] * John rides past, both pistols out and firing at A_Random_Skeleton_01. One shot to disarm, the other to damage. 2d6-3 * Dicesuke throws the bones for John (2d6-3) and gets 2. 2d6-4 * Dicesuke throws the bones for John (2d6-4) and gets 1. 2d6-5 * Dicesuke throws the bones for John (2d6-5) and gets 5. [John blasts the end off of the pike, and puts a bullet into the skeleton, not that it minds.] [The final skeleton stabs the archer in the leg.] [Mary Anne's turn!] * MaryAnne puts forth her open umbrella so as to offer herself and Millie cover just incase they become targets. [Well, Millie can no longer see where she's going.] (That's why we have the big guns. ) [It's Fanfan's turn!] * Fanfan makes a flying kick at one of the skelly-horses, her blades at parallel angles aimed to hit the skelly rider. ( You go, Xianghua. ;) ( gimme an acrobatics (jumping) roll ) 2d6-2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Fanfan (2d6-2) and gets 4. 2 2d6-2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Fanfan (2 2d6-2) and gets 5 7. [Fanfan slashes the skeleton twice and sommersaults backwards off the horse, landing in a crouch.] [Tairan's turn!] * Tairan picks himself up, grips his katana with both hands, and chops at the skeleton John attacked. 2d6-3 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Tairan (2d6-3) and gets 4. [Tairan cleaves a gap through the thing's armor and very nearly cuts it in half.] [Mikoto's turn!] * Mikoto gets to his feet and, grimacing in pain, does a somersault toward the nearest skeleton, ending in a handstand kick designed to take the thing's head clean off. ( 50% chance of failure. Whee. But even if I miss, it'll look cool! ^_^_v ) ( Aw yeah! ) 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Mikoto (2d6) and gets 3. ( HA. HA! HA! Hit! ) (Whoo!) ( Awesome! ) (Nice shot!) ( Fortune favors the bold and the silly. =P ) ( Clearly. ) ( And the Bisexual Vampires. ) ( And the cool. Don't forget the cool. XD ) [Mikoto kicks the thing's head clean off! Without a rider to direct it, the undead horse runs off towards the horizon.] (Can't forget the cool. And the bisex... What?) [The first skeleton isn't happy about what Mikoto did to its friend, and tries to poke him. But... It's hard to use a pike with one hand. It misses.] ( Man, now if I get another turn it's gotta be SUPERacrobatic, otherwise what am I the dancer for? ^^ ) [Jinx's turn!] * Jinx charges through the skeletal calvary to join the wounded samauris and Fanfan. As he does this he switches to his revolver and calls out the skeletal calvary. "Fortune smiles on you, I'm going to give you peace." (Don't think I have anything to roll for, so I'm done) [Millie's turn!] * Mikoto lands in a crouch, and immediately clutches his arm. "Ow, ow, ow... that was thankfully worth it, but ow..." * Tairan grins. "Showoff. Nice shot." * Millie raises up Greenpeace, trying to keep Pepper still with her legs, taking a long gulp. "Let's..let's see you freaks try to stop this!" She points at the one with armor and closes her eyes, firing it off. ( Oh god. I'm nowhere near that one, right? Oh god. ) ( Eyes closed? Oh hell. *hides* ) (Ah shit.) 2d6-1 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Millie (2d6-1) and gets 7. ( If she gets a critfail, it'll bounce off whoever it hits first and THEN hit Mikoto. ;P ) (snicker) ( Sadly, that's really possible. :P ) (Naw, that's a critsuccess for Millie. :P ) ( Heh! ) (... I have to try doing a ricochet shot off of the skellies now.) ( You got to shoot skeleton in an eye socket, have it bounce off the back of the skull, and fly out the other eye to hit a second skeleton. ) (Well, yeah. Who said you can't look cool with a gun? :P) [Millie blows a good-sized hole through the armor of one of the skeletons.] ( Okay, that *would* be awesome. :D ) (It'd probably involve two attack rolls. One for the Called Shot, and the other for the Ricochet shot.) * Mikoto throws Tairan a little grin. "After that dismount, I had to redeem myself." He catches sight of Millie shooting blind and just *stares*. "What is she DOING?" * Millie lets out a slow breath. ( Answer: Zen Archery! ) ( An *actual feat*, because D&D sold out. ) [The swordsman takes the opportunity to cut the one-armed skeleton in half.] (Wouldn't it be Zenrifling in Millie's case? =) ) [The second trooper swings at one of the skeletons, managing to nick it's leg.] [The third one shoots at one of the bow-skeletons, but misses.] (Better than her gun barrel wavering methinks though.) ( Agreeeeeeeed. ) ( Definitely. ) [One of the skeletons fires an arrow at Jinx!] 2d6-2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Jinx (2d6-2) and gets 1. [Jinx manages to avoid the arrow. Can he avoid the pike of the second one, too?] 2d6+2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Jinx (2d6+2) and gets 13. (dr1) 2d6+2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Jinx (2d6+2) and gets 9. [Jinx gets stabbed in the side as the skeleton rides past.] [The third skeleton fires an arrow at the injured trooper, but she's able to move out of the way.] [Sakura's turn!] * Jinx smirks as the arrow flies by then grunts as he takes a pike in the side. He grimaces as he comments down to the troopers, "Hope you Easterns appreciate this." * Sakura looks up at the sky. "It is time." ( It's HOWDY DOODY TIME! ) ( *cracks up* ) (So... the one I disarmed is out of action, right?) * Sakura rushes towards the uninjured Bow one.. and halfway there, her sword turns a dark black. Sakura splits into multiple images of herself, which surround the skeleton. "Sunrise..." The Sakuras toss their blades into the air.. where the combine into one. ( Oh lord. Sakura whips out a wolf puppet named Branky. I burst into flame. ) (Nah - Sakura will whip out Lambchop instead =P ) * Sakura leaps into the air, where the blade is now glowing with black flames. "and Moonfall!" The Sakuras combine back into one, who grips the blade. She brings the glowing weapon down onto the skeleton. 2d6-7 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Sakura (2d6-7) and gets 4. [Mr. Skeleton that Sakura hit is utterly destroyed.] ( That tears it. All the Shomurans are incredible showoffs. ^^ ) [John's turn!] ( Isn't that the point? ) * John brings Hazel around, twirling his right pistol as he does. He rides straight tru the fray again, targeting the bow-skel that Sakura didn't hit, and with a similar procedure attempts to disarm and damage the skellie. (Ride check:) 2d6-3 * Dicesuke throws the bones for John (2d6-3) and gets 6. ( Hey, Tairan doesn't show off. =P ) 2d6-4 * Dicesuke throws the bones for John (2d6-4) and gets -2, a CRITICAL SUCCESS!!! "o/~I love you... you love me... o/~" (Okay, fine. All of the *cool* Shomurans are incredible showoffs. ;P) 2d6-5 * Dicesuke throws the bones for John (2d6-5) and gets 3. * Sakura lands and places her sword back into her sheath. (The Shomurans are kicking more butt today than the Teckians. You guys need to catch up! Don't let me down! *waves a cowboy hat*) [John shatters the thing's bow. He also shoots it. :P] [Mary Anne's Turn!] (Eat THAT!) ( Wow, it took her that long to land? :P ) (And I *will* become a bigger showoff than them. I will!) ( You didn't do the eye ricochet. *sniffle* ) ( Yeah, you and yer shiny teeth. ) * MaryAnne keeps her defensive position so as to protect Millie and herself as best she can with her umbrella, should they fall under attack (MaryAnne really doesn't like to do fighting - that's why she hired everyone else for ; ) ) [Fanfan's turn] * Fanfan leaps onto the horse of the armed, unfiery skelly and draws her sword down on the skelly in two perpendicular cuts. 3 2d6-2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Fanfan (3 2d6-2) and gets 3 9 7. [Fanfan nearly succeeds in carving the skeleton to bits. But not quite, 'cause she missed with one sword.] [Tairan's turn!] ( So she cut it into near-bits, eh? No relation to far-bits? ) ( Or Chobits. ) * Tairan runs up behind Fanfan and tries to finish off the last armed skeleton (the one she attacked) with a plain, old fashioned two-handed katana hack. 2d6-3 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Tairan (2d6-3) and gets 5. [Tairan finishes the thing off.] [Mikoto's turn!] * Mikoto gets up, picking up the naginata on the way, and takes a nice big swing at the skeleton that's left. "This is your last chance to display some sort of power, you stupid thing!" ( Yes, actively trying to get the damn thing to do something other than cut. But also trying to get it to cut. ) ( With your luck, you'll turn into Eoi. ) ( Gimme a soul roll. ) 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Mikoto (2d6) and gets 2, a CRITICAL SUCCESS!!! "I love the smell of a crit in the morning." (I think he made it.) ( .. Well. ) (Hoo. Yes.) ( FINALLY. Yay, meatbun for Dicey. ) ( And while everyone's paying attention to the armed ones, the unarmed one trips everyone. ) (Yay! ) (The Naginata was listening, and decided it didn't want to be sold for scrap. :P ) ( First crit Dicey's ever given me, I think. ) [Well... The skeleton and its mount turn into a pile of bones and armor at the sonic wave unleashed by the naginata.] [Jinx's turn!] * Jinx calmly rides Lightning into position to give cover to the swordswoman. He doesn't bother to look as he swings his revolver in a different direction to take a shot at the last skeleton. 2d6-2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Jinx (2d6-2) and gets 3. ( Mikoto is GUILE.. or Charlie. It all makes sense now. ) * Mikoto blinks on the downswing, eyes wide. "Well... nice job!" 2d6-3 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Jinx (2d6-3) and gets 5. ... well, that would explain why it hurt so much when I got hit with that thing. * Mikoto nods, looking a little dazed. "Clearly." [Jinx shoots the flaming skeleton, yet it's still moving, albeit barely.] [Millie's turn!] * John looks back. "That's not a normal one, is it?" Impressive. * Jinx grins. "Wish I could get a Tomahawk that could do that." ( I've used up all my good karma this session. Next time I'm guaranteed to critfail every roll. ) (Wait, there are critfails? ^_^) ( But it was WORTH IT, ne? XD ) ( Don't talk. In my previous three character fights, I've critfailed 8 times. ) (Come watch us play Arcana some day, you will learn all about the critfails) ( Oh, for sure. *_* ) * Millie lets out another gulp. "K-keep that umbrella up." She slowly opens her eyes and tries not to waver the point too much as she lets out another shot. 2d6-1 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Millie (2d6-1) and gets 3. * MaryAnne answers Millie "Most certainly." [Millie blows the thing apart.] * Millie stares at the thing blowing apart and falters forward a bit, hugging the barrel of her rifle. "It...it worked..." * MaryAnne says "Splended shot! Well done!" * Tairan eyes the three soldiers. "You all okay? We don't have a medic handy, but I've got some bandages to help with the bleeding..." * Millie faints and falls off Pepper. * Mikoto props himself up on the naginata. "Well... for once, things seemed to go pretty smoothly." He said, as his arm drips blood. * Jinx dismounts and reloads his weapons as Tairan speaks. * John blows at each of his pistols. He goes at the process of relaoding while Tairan talks to the nice Easterners. * MaryAnne exclaims "Millie!" and attempts to keep Millie seated on the saddle, but not being especially strong or expecting to have to do such an action, falls off along with Millie onto the ground. [The swordsman (the only one not hurt) looks over as he helps the girls and nods. "We thank you for your assistance."] * Sakura grunts and does her best to remove the arrow from her arm. * Fanfan resheathes her swords and gets to her feet. "May I ask how you came about these...things?" [It's nighttime now.] * Tairan blinks at MaryAnne's yell, notices Millie's tumble, and facepalms. He quickly regains his composure. "Glad to help. There a town nearby where you guys can get those wounds looked at?" ( Guh, I may have to go soon. Havin' trouble keeping my eyes open. ) * MaryAnne recovers herself, folds her umbrella, and gets out her hand fan and starts fanning Millie with a gental breeze while saying "Oh my goodness gracious! Millie are you all right?" [The swordswoman grimaces as the archer helps remove the arrow from her shoulder. "There's no town for a while. Not unless you count Izu."] * Millie doesn't make any motion to indicate that she's alright in the least. * Mikoto tilts his head at the woman. "Izu? Is there something wrong with that place? I don't really recognize it." * Jinx rubs his side where the pike stabbed him for a moment and then holsters his revolver and stretches his arms into the air, with one hand holding the other's wrist. The swordswoman chuckles. "You wouldn't. It doesn't exist anymore." Crap... my group is currently hunting a bandit gang that we've tracked through this area. Otherwise, we'd offer to accompany you to the near- huhwha? * Mikoto frowns. "That sounds... ominous." * MaryAnne continues to fan Millie and make her comfortable as the others attend to the postbesiedged people. The man elaborates: "Izu was destroyed in the war. It's nothing but a ghost town now." Hm. ( Oh, and thank god Millie wasn't awake forthat. "Where are we going?" "Izu." "Sounds nice." ) The woman nods and adds: "That's why the undead." * John holsters his pistols as he looks at the formerly besieged fighters. (You're really going to bring her there knowingly?) * Jinx grimaces at that particular bit of news, and proceeds to the pleasanter task of checking the bodies for loot. * Mikoto winces. "That heads off my thought that Jan would be hiding there." ( Not anymore. -_^ ) (If you did, Mikoto'd be the first to go.) Ah, okay. If you like, you can accompany us as we travel through. Safety in numbers, and it'll give you a chance to heal up a bit until you can find a town. ( I'd plead the fifth, but we're in a monarchy. ) 2d6+2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Sakura (2d6+2) and gets 10. * Tairan looks back at the others. "That sound reasonable?" * Jinx nods. "Certainly." * Fanfan shrugs. The man shakes his head. "We should be alright. We stupidly wandered too close to the town. If we can get back to the checkpoint, we'll be alright." * Mikoto shakes his head. "I have no objection, but we'll be moving a lot slower with injured people on foot." Checkpoint? ( What we need is a Cabin. ) ( Or Mokona, or a Capsule Corp. salesman. *BOM* ) (Or a Tent. We don't have enough to make a Cabin worthwile.) He nods. "Just a short distance southeast. We'll skirt around the river." ( Which way are the tracks leading, BTW? ) The woman grumbles. "I knew following those foreigners was a bad idea." * Mikoto raises an eyebrow. "Foreigners, you say... tell us more?" 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Jinx (2d6) and gets 8. * MaryAnne continues to fan Millie **FAN FAN FAN** We're tracking a group of Western bandits... ( Quickly, Fanfan! Go help Mary Anne fan... fan! ) * Millie flutters her lashes and groans, looking a little dazed. "Huh? Wha..?" She narrows her eyes at Mary. "Couldja stop doin' that?" ( Wuh? Did someone call...fah. ) She looks up. "Yeah. Some Shomurans, and some barbarians. They headed right for Izu! We tried to warn them, but they wouldn't stop." * MaryAnne raises up, stops fanning Millie, and says "Oh you had me worried. Are you well?" * John nods. "Tairan, does their trail lead straight to Izu?" Yeah, are they gone? ( Fanfan, disgusted by that pun, runs off and joins an acting troupe, where she gets the lead role in "FanFantom of the Opera." ) * Mikoto glances back at Millie, and pales a bit. "There is no good way for this to end." ( Hey, Jesse! Where's yer NL submissions, eh? :P ) * MaryAnne considers and then says "Well, I'd say that they are...rather put out right now." ( GMs? Tracks lead towards Izu? ) * Millie looks over at Mikoto and sits up quickly, narrowing her eyes. "What are ya talkin' 'bout?" (You'll need to roll tracking at a +2. Grasslands.) 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Tairan (2d6) and gets 9. She adds. "We gave up and were on our way back when this happened." She gestures. ( HA! No. Which way WERE they leading, before we heard the screams? ) (The direction you were going. East.) (And, actually, the screams were east, too. :P) * Mikoto rubs the back of his neck. "I think it'll take some explaining... but it means we've got some time, likely, to rest and make our decision." * Jinx sighs and gives up on finding anything useful on the undead. "Well, we'll have to be sure that they aren't trying to mislead us again. Izu could be a that they made tracks to and then avoided." * MaryAnne stands up and dusts herself off. * Tairan hrms... "Dunno. Tracks were going east, so it definately could be them... can't get a definate bead on them here. I am sure that if they knew the story of the town, it would be most likely to be a trap. * John smirks. "Fightin' ruins the tracks, eh?" The woman looks at you. "You're not thinking of going there, are you?" That and grasslands don't hold tracks as well as forests. No broken branches, twigs, and such. * Jinx shrugs as he covers the wound in his side. "It's a living." ( Of course not. We'll let Dracula eat them, then sweep in, grab the tablet, and split. ) ( Sadly, the Mystery Machine's in the shop... ) (let us not forget our garlic and wooden stakes though ; ) ) (And crosses!) Gimme some time, and maybe I can find something. At the moment, though... Sakura, you see anything? * Millie looks at the rest of them. "Someone mind lettin' ol' Millie in on the secret? What's this all 'bout?" ( .. Millie the Vampire Slayer. Please kill me. ) ( Does that make John Xander? =P ) ( PIRATE Xander. ) (Hehe) (I guess that makes MaryAnne the watcher then =P ) (Oh dear GOD no.) ( No, Mikoto is the watcher. ) ( I think as the blonde fighter it makes me Spike. Sadly. AAAAAAARGH. ) ( Mary Anne is.. the lesbian Wicca. ) ( I could deal with being the Watcher. ) ( No, Maryanne's whatsername... played by Emma Caufield. Former vengeance demon girl. ) ( Anya ) 2d6+1 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Sakura (2d6+1) and gets 9. Plus, it's dark, which NEVER helps anything. Got anything, Sakura? No. ( Good answer. c.c; ) How far away from Izu must people be to not be attacked by the undead? Crap... my suggestion would be to follow our new friends to this checkpoint, camp for the night, and come back at first light to see if we can pick up the trail. Sound reasonable? * Jinx mounts up again. "How far off is the checkpoint?" Wait...Izu's the reason why those...those things were here? A lot more reasonable than heading into a ghost town injured and tired. * Millie hops to her feet and frantically grabs the map. You're not even THINKIN' of goin' anywhere near that place....raight? ( Ex-nay on the Ost-gay.) [Millie has a hard time reading the map in this darkness.] It is our hope that we will not have to. ( We could set Mary Anne on fire and use her light to read the map. ) (Yeah, you don't have issues with Mary, do you?) ( Seconded! The dress will mean she'll provide the most light. ) ( =) ) * Jinx nods at Millie. "If it does either you can stay a safe distance away with Mary Anne and snipe or use me as cover when necessary. It's not ideal but it seems the job may require it." Plus, I doubt the undead'll be out during the day. So if we have to pass by... * Mikoto nods at Tairan, then at the travellers. "We'll accompany you to the checkpoint, if you don't mind." The man says, "If we're going to be safe about it, we'll have to follow the river, which should be about three days." * John nods. * John frowns. "Do we have that much time to spare?" * MaryAnne comments "That's rather out of our way and would cost precious time, wouldn't you think so?" * Jinx shakes his head. "Yeah, three days is too long." * Mikoto shrugs. "It's smarter than going off into Izu half-cocked." That's three days there and three days back, however. "Normally, we don't even patrol this far out." Well, would they be foolish enough to enter the city and stay there? * MaryAnne suggests "Well, perhaps would could put a bit more distance between ourselves and camp for the night and then in the morning make way?" * Jinx nods. "What Mary Anne says makes sense." You are NOT bringin' me that way an' that's final! Wouldn't it be best if we were just to circle the city, staying out of range of the undead fighters, until we find the tracks? * John nods. "I agree with MaryAnne." Yeah. WE can't afford to waste 6 days. In any event, we'll have to rest for now, tend our wounds, and plan. Hopefully Izu will buy us some time. * MaryAnne says "Circling the town would be preferable to passing though it, if possible, yes." * Tairan cheerfully ignores Millie. "So let's put some distance between us and the town, and camp for the night. We'll work out guard shifts later." * Millie looks up at Mikoto. "Don't...dammit, don't y'all even care what I say?" * MaryAnne continues "I don't rather fancy entertaining any more such guests." * Jinx glances down at his shotgun. "If it comes to it, I could scout the town, shouldn't be hard to figure out if anyone living is there." * Mikoto glances back at Millie. "We're not going anywhere just yet. We're going to plan and take everyone's strengths and weaknesses into account. Don't panic until there's something to panic about." * MaryAnne says to Millie "I do agree that we go around the town rather than though the town." * Millie folds her arms and looks away. "I'm...I'm not goin' to a freakin' ghost town...I--I can't." We have already established that that is not our most preferred course. But you're still talkin' 'bout goin' near it. During the DAY, Millie. Undead don't usually trapse around during daylight hours. * MaryAnne says "I am sure we can circle around it while maintaining a good distance." Hopefully not so much as to encounter more warriors. It is not in any of our interest to do so, any more than it is yours. * Jinx looks over at Millie. "We do all have our drawbacks, we'll deal with this like we dealt with Tairan's problem. You may wish to remember that next time you threaten to gun a coworker down." If--if yer sure 'bout that... * Millie bites the tip of her glove fingers. * Mikoto shakes his head. "Nothing's getting done until morning, at least." * Millie doesn't look at Jinx, she just sighs and looks rather downcast, waving idly. "Fine. Do what you want." * MaryAnne puts her hand on Millie's shoulder, gives her a comforting smile, and says "We'll be okay. You'll see." * Jinx nods. "Let's get moving and make camp." * John glances back at Millie, then Jinx... He shakes his head as he starts moving to make camp. * Millie shrugs off Mary's hand and walks away. * MaryAnne sighs. [Like sleep? Like sleep. They set up camp, set up watch, and do that. Session End.]